Date:19/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/19/stories/2005021901911001.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Dealing with naxalites

Sir, — The editorial, "Dealing with naxalism" (Feb. 17), says the State Governments should not treat naxalism as merely a law and order problem.

And that they should tackle the socio-economic issues that provide a fertile ground for the naxalites to grow. But the ground situation prevailing in the States such as Andhra Pradesh is different. The Government's writ does not run in the major naxalite-infested areas. Government agencies cannot even enter them, let alone interact with the locals and address their grievances.

Also, naxalites have no faith in democracy. Their final arbiter is AK-47. The only way to deal with them is to launch an aggressive police hunt to smash their networks, weaken their base and immobilise their capacity.

C.A.C. Murugappan
Kothamangalam, T.N.

Sir, — The problem lies in the sympathy the naxalites get from certain sections of the population. The State administration should make a genuine effort to win over these people.

The security forces should deal with them in a courteous manner and not give scope for allegations of high-handedness.

A. Ashok Kumar,
Udupi, Karnataka